Regional Dances

This is information we have about contra and English dances within a generous radius of Syracuse. We only update this page occasionally. Before traveling, please call or email to confirm that the time and place are still correct!

  • Click on the town name for that dance’s website (if they have one)
  • Click on the contact person’s name to send them an email

Altamont
First and third Saturdays at 8 pm — see the Old Songs web page for location and contacts.

Binghamton
A variety of dancing, including contra, English, and Scottish dancing. Check their calendar for details. Currently the most consistent is their English dancing. There is an annual English country dance ball and periodic series of 8 English dance classes on Wednesday evenings at Christ Church (10 Henry St) — contact Lee Shepherd. Beginners welcome at the start of each series.

Buffalo
First and third Saturdays at 8 pm at the Unitarian-Universalist Church (695 Elmwood Ave) — contact Queen City Country Dancers.

Cooperstown
First Fridays at the Presbyterian Church (25 Church St) — contact Otsego Dance Society at 607-965-8232.

Fredonia
First Fridays at 7:30 pm at the Fredonia Grange (58 W Main St) — contact Kathy Fox at 716-672-2716.

Ithaca: Tompkins County Country Dancers
Fridays at 8 pm at Slow Lane, the home of Ted Crane and Pamela Goddard. Occasional Sunday afternoons of waltz, English, or Scandinavian dance. And a potluck and dance every New Year’s Eve.

Also Mondays (mid June through mid September) at 7:30 pm at the Ithaca Commons Main Pavilion (Ithaca Commons) — contact Ted or Pamela at 607-273-8678.

Ithaca: Hands Four Dancers
Several special dance evenings per year, and the annual Fiddlehead Frolic. Contact HFDI President.

Ithaca: Cornell Contra Dance Club
Dances on Saturday nights during the academic year (about 3 per semester) that are open to the public. Locations include Willard Straight, RPCC, and Appel. Facebook group.

Owego
Third Sundays from 4-7 pm at the Countryside Community Center: (9 Sheldon Guile Blvd.) — contact Aleta Yarrow.

Rochester
Contra dances every Thursday at 8 pm at the Covenant Methodist Church (Culver & Parsells). English country dances on most Sundays from 6:30-9:30 pm at the First Baptist Church of Rochester (175 Allens Creek Rd) — contact CDR.

Saratoga Springs
Home of the annual Dance Flurry every February.

Syracuse
That’s us! Here’s our schedule of contra and English dancing. We dance 1st and 3rd weekends on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Most of our events are at the United Church of Fayetteville — David or Bob at 315-415-1699.

Still in search of contra dances?  Try the listing for New York State in Ted Crane’s amazing Dance Database.